Thai Airways International started in 1960 as a joint venture, meaning two firms shared ownership. Scandinavian Airlines System took a 30 percent stake and supplied know-how, and Thailand's domestic Thai Airways Company held the rest. The tie-up gave the young airline instant standing abroad. The SAS role ended in 1977, when the Thai government bought out its share. Thai then absorbed its domestic parent in 1988.
It listed shares on the Bangkok stock exchange in 1991. In 1997 Thai became a founding member of Star Alliance, with United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and SAS. In such an alliance, members sell seats on each other's flights. Royal Orchid service, purple-and-gold colors, and a Bangkok hub made Thai a symbol of premium Southeast Asian travel. Its mixed fleet even held Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s.
Money trouble finally caught up with the national airline. In 2020 it entered court-supervised rehabilitation, dropping aircraft types, routes, and tens of thousands of staff. The slimmer airline left that process in 2024, profitable for the first time in years. It also placed a landmark order for 45 Boeing 787-9s, with options for more. Thai still leads full-service flying at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and props up a giant tourism economy.